A Bharat Bandh has been called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) against GST, fuel price hike, E-way bill and is now also being backed by the All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) who has asked all its member transport companies to park their vehicles between 6 am and 8 pm. The protest has also received support from The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).
Transport Organizations have joined the protest in lieu of the E-way bill laws and rising fuel prices. E-way bill has proposed a compulsory permit that transporters would be made to carry in order to move goods from one place to another.
However, it is being said that the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and Bhaichara All India Truck Operator Welfare Association (BAITOWA) will not take part in this protest.
Nearly 40,000 different traders’ associations have shown solidarity with the CAIT and extended their support towards this protest resulting in which virtually all commercial markets are to remain closed today in the country.
It is being calculated that approximately 30 lakh roads will remain dysfunctional today as reportedly over 15,000 sit-in protests are currently going on in the country.
The traders’ organizations have said that GST is “one of the most complex taxation systems” and have demanded a review of the law to simplify it. CAIT stated that its pleas had been long ignored by the GST Council and they, “highly regret such a dismal attitude and picture of the GST which has compelled the trade union leaders attending the conference to call for a Bharat Trade Bandh.”
